Patients welcome innovative 3D Surgery

The dream of made-to-order medical devices is now a reality
at Epworth Freemasons, where six patients have been fitted with 3D printed jaw parts
that include three or more teeth attached.

The new technology means that patients need undergo only one
surgical procedure, usually taking approximately an hour, in which both the 3D
jaw part and their new teeth are fitted.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr George Dimitroulis said
today that the new procedure sets the teeth in place, fixed to the titanium 3D
printed device, in an operation that takes approximately one hour.

Dr Dimitroulis reports all patients had long term
conditions or injury that resulted in loss of teeth and subsequent erosion of
the jawbone.

“My patient Suzie (pictured in theatre photo) had a nasty car
accident in 1989 and lost a large part of her top jaw together with numerous
teeth. She underwent complex bone graft reconstructive surgery 10 years ago,
but this failed at the end of last year. She has worn a cumbersome denture since
then until her operation on 14 March,” Dr Dimitroulis said.

“Three days after the surgery, she reported feeling very well
and experiencing little pain. She was taking care with rinsing her mouth, but
otherwise able to clean the teeth on the other side of her mouth.

“This cannot be compared with the process of having to wait
months for bone grafts to strengthen the jaw so that new teeth can be inserted,
as is currently the case with dent​al implants.

“This high tech medical implant allows full dental
rehabilitation in cancer and trauma patients who have missing teeth and
insufficient jaw bone to support conventional dentures and dental implants,” he
added.

Called the Osseoframe, the new device was conceived, developed
and manufactured in Australia by Dr Dimitroulis and a team of designers, engineers
and prosthodontists.

rDimitroulis founded the small Melbourne start-up company,
OMX Solutions, which makes the device. He reports that his ideas for 3D devices
would have gone overseas had it not been for the support of

Epworth Freemasons
and financial assistance from the federal government, for which he is grateful.

Further enquiries

Dr Dimitroulis is currently at a conference in Hong Kong presenting the Osseoframe to an international audience of surgeons.

Please email or leave a phone message with your name, address, phone number and questions. Dr Dimitroulis' rooms​ will get back to you within three working days.